Fire crackers and suspect

Rita couldn't speak, she was too scared. Alexia felt tense, patting her back gently with Rhoda inside the car, while waiting on two annoying men who had been after her mental health ever since she came across them. 

Joan stepped inside the car. His gaze fixed on Rhoda's below, his brown golden eyes looked the same as hers.

Rhoda lounged in the chair close to the window, as the driver drove down the estate. 

Alexia was stuck between questioning him, literally staring at the vehicle on the road, crossing her arms to access Rita.

Rhoda looked at them both, gave a heavy sigh. “If only we can have one dad, definitely enjoy the peace of having a mum and sister,” looking at Alexia.

“Oh please, Rhoda. Come here, it's the both of us tonight, and I'm here for you.” She replied, her voice firm.  Rhoda moved close to her, chuckling softly.

Joan stared at both of them, smiling. “What do you love most? I will get it right away; burn fire, movies?”

“Oh, burn fire crackers for all three,” she said, smiling. Her smile was genius, indicating the long-awaited happiness in it.

“I'm in it already, so I'll have to put it on before the midnight set.”

“Let me get it straight,” Alexia said, breaking the silence. 

“Bounding, planning without me, hinting at some fairy tale without the third player in this, and without involving her…? She teased, glaring at each other until one of them chuckled hard.

Rhoda smiled. “I'd bet you would love it if you left it for both of us.”

 Joan even looked at her. “She's right. You need to rest with Rita.” Alexia nodded slowly without saying anything further.

“Oh, I'm here for fun,” Rhoda said, hugging both of them from behind.

The car drove down the left lane. They were silent about each other. 

“Mummy,” Rhoda called again, her voice louder than before. She turned to see, her face a bit spurned and— “we are never going to get off from them, if we three can leave this city. I can't stay there longer.” She whispered slowly. 

Alexia swallowed hard, trying to process her wording. “I like this side of you, Rhoda. Very bold.”

“I will plan everything, to take you out completely from him.”

Rhoda growled low, squeezing her face. “It's about three of them. If big uncle Bruce's right about Joan, then probably another force within. We're running out of time. We can't just sit here and wait for the force to harm any of us.”

Joan turned her head to back. “Having a good time, mother and daughter's relationship?” Smiling hard. 

Alexia looked directly into his eyes. “Yes, we are. A bound would do. Don't make things harder for us by starring.”

His eyes darted at her, he faltered a little. “There you go..” he said, turning in front as the maidservant welcomed home.

“An old-fashioned designed house but yet beautiful and classy,” Rhoda mocked, looking around the house.

Joan raised an eyebrow. “Old-fashioned? That sounds like a comic line.”

“It looks more like Sofia's house in a storybook.” She was quick to protest. “They are real, and if I'm to insinuate… then it is more real than a picture.”

"Okay, Rhoda. Let's assume they're old-fashioned.” He said, bending to her level to keep his voice low and calm.

“Can we enter the house now?” he said.

Rhoda paused for a while, her hand clutched on her chin. Still humming around as she tapped her feet on the floor. 

“It's beautiful inside, you will love it.” He said, grabbing her hands gently while they entered the house. 

“This is beautiful,” She muttered, looking around the interior of the house. She hurriedly walked up the stairs, gazing, and admiring the decor of the wall. Apparently different from what she had been living in.

Alexia moved closer, her face softening and calm. “Thank you, Joan. For everything.”

“You owe me alot.” He chuckled. “Call the medicals shortly, so they can check on her vitals and state of mind as well. We need to be sure of her wellness.”

Alexia nodded. “I will do that.”

Rhoda ran down, sweat all over her face. “I love it here. Can we start the fire crackers?”

“Very soon, let's get busy with something.” Joan said.

“What about mummy?” She asked. “She needs to join us.”

“She needs to be with Rita,” he said. “But we can do that alone. Let's surprise her.”

Rhoda leaned forward, her eyes a bit smaller calculating. “Then maybe we should. Ready to go.”

The preparation.

As the sun set dawn to the east, the air fire was smirked with anticipation. The scent of simmering snacks, sweets and the sound of fire cracking filled the air, mingling with the faint smell of coal in the fire box.

Rhoda watched with admiration as Joan, being so nice with a welcoming smile, carefully unfolding another packet of firecrackers. She was already dressed in a bright white dress with beautiful embroidery given to her, her ponytail bobbing behind her.

“Uncle, can I help? She said, tugging on her his sleeve. Joan's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, handed her a small, cylinder cracker. “Here, you can help me prepare this one. But first, we need to make sure it's safe.”

They carefully inserted a thin, red fuse into the crackers, Rhoda's small hands moving deftly under his guidance. As they finished preparing the crackers. Joan carefully placed it on a metal tray filled with colorful crackers.

“This is beautiful.” She smiled, looking around the beautiful courtyard surrounded by the vibrant colors that evening.

“Can we light the crackers now?” She asked, her voice trembling with excitement.

Joan smiled, “let's call the others before we light up the sky this evening.” She nodded, hugging him from behind.

“Mummy, it was Joan.” Rita said finally, waking up from the deep sleep after the medicals were gone. 

Alexia swallowed hard, “Joan?” She repeated. 

The door cracked open, Joan leaned against the door, her face looked cold and mean.